[99mTc-pyrophosphate myocardial scintigraphy in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris (author's transl)]

In 66 patients suffering on chronic stable angina pectoris myocardial scintigrams with 99mTc-pyrophosphate were evaluated. Patients who had former infarcts or infarct signs in ECG were excluded. 16 normal subjects were used as controls. In all normal subjects and in 35 patients with chronic A.P. a normal myocardial scintigram could be obtained. In the remaining 31 patients a localized myocardial tracer accumulation could be seen. There was a correlation between the tracer accumulation and the limitted left ventricular function. No correlation was found between the severity and the number of involved coronary arteries and a positive scintiphoto. The mechanism of the tracer accumulation is discussed. The results of this investigation show that a positive myocardial scintigram does not prove a myocardial infarction. It is a sign for a insufficiency of the contractility of the left ventricle, probably due to under perfusion.